How will these courses help?


The Planning your Successful Australian Distillery course provides guidance and sound advice to help you open a distillery business. 

The Planning course has tools and templates to help you work out costs, size and scale and the decisions you need to make along the way. It will save you money and heartache.

After completing this course you can consider growth and expansion by doing the Launching your Successful Distillery course.

"The course has been very beneficial and the 5 year financial model is excellent. I have taken the learnings from the course and now getting closer to opening." - Jesse, Port Jackson Distilling Co

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..."This is a comprehensive and business focussed course unlike anything currently available for those setting up a distillery. Incredibly fine-tuned to the industry, with an amazing array of customisable documents that filled a (large) number of gaps in my knowledge. Worth every penny....in fact feels like a real bargain."
- Shannon, Wee Jasper Distillery

What can you expect?

Our courses will help people who are thinking about starting their own spirits business, develop the skills and confidence to take the plunge. 

Members receive access to content via an online portal, specifically created for the Australian distilling community by experts in the Australian industry. Monthly Masterclasses are included as well as access to a private Facebook group.

660+ Members undertaking a course.

The ‘Planning Your Successful Distillery’ course guides your distilling journey covering everything from research and product decisions, to technical training, how to write distillery specific business plans and financial models, to marketing strategies and sales projections.

This is the 'essential roadmap' for anyone thinking of setting up their dream distillery business in Australia.

- "Distilling and setting up your own business can be a lonely task. The Distillers Institute gave me the confidence I was on the right track." - Stuart, course participant.

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"I have loved the help and the list of suppliers."  - Peter Nakos, Three Arches Distilling

How does it work?

The Distillers Institute provides a step-by-step process over two courses to plan your distillery. They guide you through the economics, compliance, safety and skills required to become an active distiller.

We share what the Australian Tax Office will be expecting in order to get your licence, give you options on where to purchase equipment and guide you to the right industry consultants (if desired).

This is a self-paced online course that new distillers can use to plan and execute their distillery, with support from experts in the Australian distilling industry.

We offer insights from active Australian distilleries that have been through their own journey and are now selling their products. Once you’re rolling, you’re on the way to being a part of the Australian Distilling community.

About The Distillers Institute

The Distillers Institute was born from the passion of four distilling industry professionals who wanted to help people who wanted to start distilling with the knowledge and networks to do so.

Built from the foundations established by the Tasmanian Whisky Academy in 2015, the Founders launched the Tasmanian-based business in 2020 and have continued to grow it each year since. They have created a valuable and well researched set of courses built with the support of some of the industry's greats.

Now, there are more than 660 students with more than 10% already opened their doors and these students have already moved from good to great.

We launched in New Zealand in January 2023, with the goal to support the industry to grow sustainably and successfully. Join the distilling elite.

Anne Gigney

Anne Gigney

Anne is the Director of the Tasmanian Whisky Academy, has been in the industry since 2015 and has trained over 1000 of Australia and New Zealand’s distillers. 

Anne facilitates the Institute of Brewing and Distilling General Certificate of Distilling courses for the Asia-Pacific region and advocate for education in Australia’s distilling industry. She recently completed a two moth trip and research project into distilling education practices two through the Churchill Trust.

Anne’s passion is helping others make a success of their dreams and drinking delicious brandy, a good peated rye whisky and sexy fresh navy gin. 

Anne Gigney

Troy Trewin

Since 2011 Troy has been managing and growing whisky businesses in Australia and New Zealand, as CEO of three separate and well-respected brands. In recent years he has been advising other up-and-coming distilleries, or those already in a fast-growth phase.

Troy’s passion is helping distillery founders grasp the true economics and realities of growing a spirit business from nothing, or with limited capital, to something of meaning in the industry and great value. Since early 2017 Troy has been the Chairperson of fast-growing craft brewery, Hobart Brewing Co – the second largest craft brewer in Tasmania.

In late 2019 Troy started hosting a weekly podcast, interviewing small business owners with 5 to 30 team members, who grew their business to something bigger. 

With over 500 episodes, the Grow A Small Business is one of the best small business podcasts in Australia - they are now ranked in the top 50,000 (1.5%) of all 3.1m podcasts in the world. 

You can listen to the podcasts Troy has done with distillery owners.

Anne Gigney

Marcel Thompson

Marcel Thompson (Ngāti Whātua, Waikato, Ngāti Koata) is an international award-winning distiller, craft spirits industry advocate, educator, bestselling author and podcast host.

Known also as Mr Gin, Marcel has published two best selling books Still Magic and Gin Ventures.

As a Chemistry graduate from Auckland University Marcel Thompson had the choice of working with pharmaceuticals, explosives or gin. The decision was simple; choose the unusual career path that piques relentless curiosity. Armed with a dust coat and a willingness to learn Marcel started an apprenticeship with some of Australasia's finest in the industry, whose lineage may be traced back to the giants of the game in pre-war London. International assignments with joint venture partnerships in New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea bring a rich experiences to the team.

Anne Gigney

Ian Thorn

Ian is a technical brewer and distiller who has worked in the beverage manufacturing industry since 2006. In that time he has worked in both the UK and Australia in small, medium and large companies.

Ian started his career as a Brewery Microbiologist (Scottish & Newcastle) before going on to become a Head Brewer of a small English brewery (Stroud Brewery). In the whisky industry he has worked as a Distiller, a Distillery Manager, a Technical Manager (Starward), and his current primary role is that of Operations Manager for a new Rye Grain Distillery in Melbourne (The Gospel Distillers).

Ian is also the Institute of Brewing and Distilling's Tutor in Australia and brings his technical expertise to their courses in the region.

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6 Industry Secrets you must know Before Starting Your Distilling Business… Even with Zero Experience!

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Our spirits community

To find out more about our members and the fine distillers who have opened their doors, nip over to our Distillers Gallery and see who has spirit available near you.

Contact details

The Distillers Institute is now in Australia and New Zealand. The TDI Team would love to hear from you.

In Australia:

Phone: 1800 958 433
Email: [email protected]

Postal Address:
PO Box 1078
Sandy Bay TAS 7005
Australia

In New Zealand:

Phone: 0800 255 615
Email: [email protected]